StateofCalifornia

OfficeofGovernorEdmundG.BrownJr.

HowtoApplyforaPardon

IndividualswhohavebeenconvictedofacrimeinCaliforniamayapplytotheGovernorfora
pardon.Agubernatorialpardonisanhonorthatmaybegrantedtopeoplewhohavedemonstrated
exemplarybehaviorfollowingtheirconviction.Apardonwillnotbegrantedunlessithasbeenearned.
Obtainingapardonisadistinctachievementbaseduponproofofaproductiveandlawabidinglife
followingconviction.Historically,governorshavegrantedveryfewpardons.

Applicationsgenerallywillnotbeconsideredunlesstheapplicanthasbeendischargedfrom
probationorparoleforatleast10yearswithoutfurthercriminalactivityduringthatperiod.Thereisno
feeforapplyingforapardon.

TheGovernorofCaliforniacannotgrantapardonforaconvictionfromanotherjurisdiction,
suchasanotherstateorafederalproceeding.Apersonconvictedinanotherstatemustapplyfora
pardoninthatstate.FederalpardoninformationmaybeobtainedfromthePardonAttorney,U.S.
DepartmentofJustice,500FirstStreetNorthwest,Washington,D.C.20530.

TheApplicationProcess

Formostpeople,thefirststepinapplyingforapardonistoobtainaCertificateofRehabilitation
fromtheSuperiorCourtinthecountywheretheapplicantcurrentlylives.Peoplewholiveoutsideof
CaliforniaandpeoplewhoareineligibleforaCertificateofRehabilitationmustuseadirectpardon
application.Theprocedureutilizedwilldependonthecircumstancesofeachapplicant.

1. CertificateofRehabilitation

ACertificateofRehabilitationisacourtorderdeclaringthatapersonconvictedofacrimeis
nowrehabilitated.Generally,anypersonconvictedofafelonywhostillresidesinCaliforniamayapply
totheSuperiorCourtinthecountywhereheorshelivesforaCertificateofRehabilitation,provided
thattheapplicantmeetsthelegalrequirementsofdemonstratedrehabilitation.Therearespecialrules
thatapplytoindividualsconvictedofsexoffenses.

AnapplicationforaCertificateofRehabilitationcanusuallybeobtainedfromthecourtclerk,
probationdepartment,orpublicdefender'soffice.Onceapetitionisfiled,thecourtmayrequirean
investigationbythedistrictattorneyandwillscheduleahearing.

IftheCourtissuesaCertificateofRehabilitation,thecertificateisforwardedtotheGovernors
Officewhereitautomaticallybecomesanapplicationforapardon.TheGovernorsreceiptofa
CertificateofRehabilitationdoesnotguaranteethatapardonwillbegranted.

2. DirectPardon

ThedirectpardonprocedureisavailabletopeoplewhoareineligibleforaCertificateof
Rehabilitation.ThisprocedureisusedprimarilybypeoplewhowereconvictedofacrimeinCalifornia
andnowresideoutsidethestate.Thedirectpardonprocedureisalsoavailabletopeoplewhoarenot
eligibleforaCertificateofRehabilitationbecausetheyhavebeenconvictedofspecifiedsexoffensesor
misdemeanoroffenses.

Revised09/05/2013
1

ApplicantsforadirectpardonmayobtaintheapplicationeitherbyaccessingtheGovernors
websiteatwww.gov.ca.gov,orbyrequestinganapplicationinwritingatthefollowingaddress:

Governor'sOffice
StateCapitol
Attention:LegalAffairs
Sacramento,CA95814

TheapplicantshouldfirstcompletetheApplicationforExecutiveClemency.Thentheapplicantmust
sendtheNoticeofIntenttoApplyforExecutiveClemencytotheDistrictAttorneyofeachcountyin
whichtheapplicantwasconvictedsothateachDistrictAttorneyreceivesthelegallyrequirednotice.
TheDistrictAttorneyacknowledgesreceiptoftheNoticeofIntentandreturnsthenoticetothe
GovernorsOffice.Finally,theapplicantshouldreturnthecompletedapplicationtotheGovernors
Officeattheaddresslistedabove.

TheReviewProcess

ThereisnorequirementthattheGovernortakeanyactiononanapplicationforapardon.Once
aCertificateofRehabilitationoracompleteddirectpardonapplicationisreceivedbytheGovernors
Office,theOfficetypicallyforwardstheapplicationtotheBoardofParoleHearings(Board).TheBoard
mayconductabackgroundinvestigationandmakearecommendationonwhetherapardonshouldbe
granted.TheBoardmaycontacttheDistrictAttorney,investigatinglawenforcementagency,andother
personswithrelevantinformationontheapplicant.

Iftheapplicanthasbeenconvictedofmorethanonefelony,theCaliforniaSupremeCourtmust
recommendgrantingapardonbeforetheGovernormaydoso.However,thereisnoobligationthatthe
GovernorseekarecommendationfromtheSupremeCourt,inthefirstinstance.

Thelengthoftimeneededtocompletethepardonprocesscannotbepredicted.Oncea
completedapplicationhasbeenreceivedbytheGovernorsOffice,itisnotnecessarytocontactthe
GovernorsOfficetocheckonthestatusofanapplication.IftheGovernortakesactiononan
application,theapplicantwillbenotified.ApplicantsshouldnotifytheGovernorsOfficeinwritingif
theirmailingaddresschanges.

EffectofaPardon

Apardondoesnotsealtheindividual'scriminalrecordorexpungetherecordofconviction,
andthepardonisitselfapublicrecord.Whenapardonisgranted,theCaliforniaDepartmentofJustice
andtheFederalBureauofInvestigationarenotifiedsothattheymayupdatetheirrecordsonthe
applicant.ThepardonisfiledwiththeSecretaryofState,reportedtotheLegislature,andisapublic
record.Ifapardonisgranted,theCertificateofRehabilitationortheapplicationforadirectpardonwill
bereportedtotheLegislatureinanannualreportandwillbecomeapublicrecord.However,specific
personalinformationwillberedacted(hidden)beforetheCertificateofRehabilitationortheapplication
ismadeavailabletothepublic.

PleaseseetheattachedQuickReferenceforRestorationofRightsforadetaileddescriptionof
theeffectsofobtainingaCertificateofRehabilitationandapardon.

Revised09/05/2013

CERTIFICATE OF REHABILITATION AND PARDON

QUICK REFERENCE FOR RESTORATION OF RIGHTS
In California, the granting of a Certificate of Rehabilitation or a Governors pardon restores to the
applicant some rights of citizenship that were forfeited as a result of a conviction.

CERTIFICATE OF REHABILITATION

GOVERNORS PARDON

DOES:

DOES:

Relieve some sex offenders, as specified,

of further duty to register.
(Pen. Code, 290.5.)
Enhance a felons potential for licensing
consideration by a State board.
(Pen. Code, 4853.)
Serve as an official document to
demonstrate a felons rehabilitation,
which could enhance employment
possibilities.
Serve as an automatic application for a
gubernatorial pardon.

DOES NOT:

DOES NOT:

Erase the felony conviction or seal the

criminal record.
(Pen. Code, 4852.17.)
Prevent the offense from being
considered as a prior conviction if the
person is later convicted of a new
offense.
Allow a felon to answer on employment
applications that he/she has no record of
conviction.
Give a felon the right to vote, because
this right is automatically restored after
discharge from parole.
Restore the right to own or possess
firearms.

Revised09/05/2013

Allow a felon to serve on a jury trial.

(Code Civ. Proc., 203 subd. (a)(5).)
Allow restoration of firearms rights, upon
federal approval, to specified offenders
who have obtained a certificate of
rehabilitation if granted a full and
unconditional pardon, unless the
conviction was for a felony involving the
use of a dangerous weapon. (Pen. Code,
4852.17.)
Allow a felon to be considered for
appointment as a county probation officer
or a state parole agent, but not to any other
peace officer positions.
(Gov. Code, 1029, subd. (c).)
Allow specified sex offenders still required
to register after obtaining a Certificate of
Rehabilitation to be relieved of their duty
to register if granted a full and
unconditional pardon.
(Pen. Code, 290.5.)

Seal or erase the record of conviction.

(Pen. Code, 4852.17.)
Prevent the pardoned offense from being
considered as a prior conviction if the
person is later convicted of a new offense.
Allow a pardoned person to answer on
employment applications that he/she has
no record of conviction.
Restore ability to own a firearm to felons
convicted of any offense involving the use
of a dangerous weapon.
(Pen. Code, 4854.)
Pardon convictions from another state, or
federal convictions.
Necessarily prevent deportation.